Frustrated readers speak out on utilities: #lohudreacts

Peter Sweeny talks about having no power for four days after Friday storm in Pleasantville March 5, 2018.
Carucha L. Meuse /lohud.com

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9:10 a.m.: A sign calling on Con Edison for help in Briarcliff Manor, New York on March 8, 2018, the morning after Nor’easter Quinn hit the area. Residents have been without power since last week’s nor’easter.(Photo: Tania Savayan/The Journal News)Buy Photo

Almost a week after tens of thousands lost power in the Lower Hudson Valley, readers posting comments on social media are angry, frustrated and bewildered over the response of utility companies. Some are also trying to be patient and understanding as they search for answers and realistic expectations for the restoration of power.

But this much is clear: This has been an arduous, wearisome March for those who have been without power, or have loved ones or friends without power. Those affected demand, and deserve, explanations.

On Facebook, "Heidi Leo" of Mahopac wrote this plea: "I am trying to stay positive, but I lost all hope after I woke up and saw the new outages and realized we are now at the bottom of the list again. There are small children and elderly people on the road I live on. NYSEG, if you are reading this, please help them. Please help us. I'm scared someone is going to die out here."

On Twitter, @Scarsdale10583 said this of Con Edison: "Next time I get my Con Ed bill i am going to return it with the words, "Pending Investigation.' Why are they allowed to have this monopoly if they don't deliver?"

We were out for 11 days during Sandy - and now we're six days into this with no trucks in sight. Next time I get my Con Ed bill i am going to return it with the words, "Pending Investigation." Why are they allowed to have this monopoly if they don't deliver?

"Deirdre Curran," posting on Facebook, echoed the frustration and disappointment of many readers by insisting that utilites have the same excuses after every major storm. "We always have plenty of advance notice that the storms are coming, yet Con Ed is always caught unprepared," she posted. "There's no excuse for this anymore. After the horrible response and all the bungling following Sandy in 2012, they seem to have learned nothing and implemented no new measures to handle things more efficiently."

On Wednesday, Westchester County Executive George Latimer — who has been traveling the county since the first nor'easter hit and posting his gripes with the utilities — made waves by calling for the presidents of Con Ed and NYSEG to resign and for overhauls of the utilities' administrations. Some readers supported his call, while others accused him of grandstanding or reacting without the necessary information.

"Saboor Syed" backed up Latimer's call on Twitter: "ConEd failed us when Sandy struck. They’ve failed us again, leaving Ardsley and residents elsewhere to fend for ourselves since Friday..."

ConEd monopoly has become Westchester residents chokehold. ConEd failed us when Sandy struck. They’ve failed us again, leaving Ardsley and residents elsewhere to fend for ourselves since Friday - with no restoration in sight given the new storm. We support George Latimer’s call.

A bunch of readers lined up to defend the work crews out on the streets. On Facebook, "Anthony Iarriccio" wrote that his father worked for Con Ed for 35 years and, after a storm, did the job until it was done. "I just love how clueless politicians can say that companies who know what they're doing fumble things. It was a major storm with power out all over. It takes time to DO IT RIGHT!"

Others stepped up to clarify that they support the work crews, but not the utilities' bosses who call the shots (Latimer made the same distinction at a press conference Thursday). "It’s not the workers," posted "Michael Sullivan" on Facebook. "They are out there busting their behinds. It’s a failed infrastructure system and not one politician attacking that problem."

Many readers have questioned how the ongoing deployment of Con Ed workers in Puerto Rico has affected restoration efforts in New York — if it has. Some seem to have made up their minds, like "Tony Lobasso," who tweeted: "Governor Cuomo could say no all he wants. A good part of the problem was that approximately 200 crew are in Puerto Rico. The Governor is responsible for them being there."

Some criticized Con Ed for not providing a clear explanation on the impact of having workers in Puerto Rico. Reader "Robert Cé" stepped up on Facebook with numbers: "About 120 (workers) - less than 1% of their staff. And less than 70 trucks, about 4% of their fleet. Not enough to make a significant difference, when you count the mutual aid crews coming from across the US and Canada to assist."

A common criticism is that utilities have done a poor job of communicating with customers and updating their own social media reports. After reader "Allison Spiegel" tweeted that "Communication from @ConEdison is contradictory and abysmal," Con Ed responded to her by direct message. In fact, Con Ed employees have been getting right into lohud's comments and answering readers directly (which we appreciate).

It's important to note that many readers, despite their own hardships, have sought to support those in worse shape than themselves.

Erik Wright, on Facebook, posted: "There’s plenty of folks in the same boat we are in. I’m really trying to keep a positive attitude, but it gets tougher and tougher. But it’s a small (insignificant) glimpse into what folks in Puerto Rico, and other places ravaged by storms have had to endure."

A fallen tree limb rests on the driveway of 61 Hillside Ave. in Suffern on Thursday, March 8, 2018. Barbara Suleski, 88, died from injuries after being pinned under a tree that fell in her front yard as she was shoveling her driveway. John Meore/The Journal News

A fallen tree limb rests on the driveway of 61 Hillside Ave. in Suffern on Thursday, March 8, 2018. Barbara Suleski, 88, died from injuries after being pinned under a tree that fell in her front yard as she was shoveling her driveway. John Meore/The Journal News

With power to the traffic lights out, Mount Vernon Police direct traffic at the heavily traveled exit for West Broad Street off of the Cross County Parkway in Mount Vernon, March 8, 2018. Mark Vergari/The Journal News

With power to the traffic lights out, Mount Vernon Police direct traffic at the heavily traveled exit for West Broad Street off of the Cross County Parkway in Mount Vernon, March 8, 2018. Mark Vergari/The Journal News

Westchester County Executive George Latimer held a press conference at the Yorktown Police Department on the nor'easter storms and power outages in Westchester on March 8, 2018. Ricky Flores/The Journal News

Westchester County Executive George Latimer speaks at the Yorktown Police Department on the nor'easter storms and the response of utility companies to the widespread power outages on March 8, 2018. Ricky Flores/The Journal News

9:10 a.m.: A sign calling on Con Edison for help in Briarcliff Manor, New York on March 8, 2018, the morning after Nor’easter Quinn hit the area. Residents have been without power since last week’s nor’easter. Tania Savayan/The Journal News